Despite formally handing over power on April 12, however, the junta continued to arrest opponents and still wields considerable influence. Scattered fighting between rival armed forces erupted in the capital last week.

On April 6, 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, led by Tuareg rebels, declared the independence of North Mali. This declaration of independence is directly linked to the false promise of humanitarian intervention in Libya.

Leadership is back in Africa. Perhaps for the first time in the continent's history, an official body, the economic community of west African states has succeeded in ending a coup in a nearby nation. That's something to celebrate.

The international community must do everything in its power to reverse the coup d'état in Mali for the sake of the Malian people, for the future of democracy in West Africa and to strengthen the global norm against recognizing governments arising from military coups against democratic regimes.

This has all been a long time coming. In northern Mali, a growing Touareg rebellion has created tens of thousands of refugees and has displaced many more than that. Yet this rebellion is far different from the rebellions of past decades.